Background Story: Jesus has been preaching, healing and teaching with His disciples walking along side. Now they get into a boat when an unexpected problem occurs.

Read Mark 4:35-41

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!

Big Idea: Jesus brings peace in the midst of our storms

Look around. What’s one thing that is desperately missing in today’s society? Peace. Peace in relationships. Peace in our decision making. Peace in our struggles. Peace in our thought processes. For being such a highly evolved society that’s put a computer in our hand and taught Alexa to turn on lights, we have not figured out how to manufacture peace.

In this story, the disciples are crossing the water in a boat when this monster storm comes upon them and they freak out. Their response seems pretty justified considering the situation. Jesus responds to them that they lack faith. Why? Should the disciples have simply ignored the storm by pretending it wasn’t there?

Faith in the midst of storms is not pretending the storm isn’t there or even that it isn’t hard to go through it. In life we will 100% have storms that take us completely by surprise. Things like a sudden sickness, a job loss, a miscarriage, a house fire, a financial concern, an international pandemic, and unfortunately many more. When the storms come, faith means looking towards Jesus as the storm rages around and remembering that JESUS IS FOR YOU!!!!

The storms of life feel overwhelming until you remember WHO is in your boat. Remember that Jesus was present in Genesis 1:10 when God created the seas. Not only are you not alone in life’s storms but you have the One who has the power to speak life into existence in YOUR BOAT. As we look to Him and not our storms, we remember that no storm is a match for Him.

Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Tell God today what you’re going through (He already knows). Tell Him about your fears, doubts, frustrations or anger. Ask Him to help you fix your eyes on Him and not your circumstances and bring you peace. When thoughts that bring fear flood your mind, go back again on your knees in prayer and in worship. What will happen? The winds might die down or your storm might continue to rage…but in either situation His peace will be with you to provide a firm foundation for you to stand and face it.

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